Sealing system for rotary mechanisms



HANNs-DIETER PASCHKE 3,180,560

SEALING SYSTEM FOR ROTARY MECHANISMS April 27, 1965 s Sheets -Sheet 1Filed Aug. 22. 1961 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS- April 1965 HANNS-DIETER PASCHKE 3,180,560

SEALING SYSTEM FOR ROTARY MECHANISMS Filed Aug. 22, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR. H/INNS -D/ETR PASCHKE ATTORNE Y5 A ril 27, 1965 Filed Aug.22, 1961 HANNS-DIETER PASCHKE 3,180,560

SEALING SYSTEM FOR ROTARY MECHANISMS I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 uvmvron Hmwvs-DIETER PASCHKE i/ W /n44 v47 A TTORNEYS.

United States Patent Germany Filed Aug. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 134,050Claims priority, applicrgtion Germany, Aug. 29, 1960,

8 Claims. (Ci. 230-145 This invention relates to a sealing system forrotary mechanisms, and more particularly to a sealing system for rotarycombustion engines that will eifectively and efiiciently seal thevariable volume working chambers of the engine, one from the other,regardless of large diiferences in pressure existing between adjacentengine chambers to be sealed.

Although this invention is applicable to and useful in almost any typeof rotary mechanism that presents a sealing requirement, such ascombustion engines, fluid motors, fluid pumps, compressors, and thelike, it is particularly useful in rotary combustion engines. e

To simplify the explanation of the invention, the description thatfollows will, for the most part, be restricted to the use of theinvention in a rotary combustion engine. It will be apparent from thedescription, however, that with slight modifications that would beobvious to a person skilled in the art, the invention is equallyapplicable to other types of rotary mechanisms.

The present invention is particularly useful in rotary combustionengines ofthe type that is described in detail in Patent No. 2,988,065,issued June 13, 1961, and reference may be made to the disclosure ofthis patent for a detailed description of such a rotary combustionengine.

This invention relates to a sealing system. for such rotary combustionengines and is somewhat similar to that of application Serial No.761,339, filed September 16, 1958,.

now Patent No. 3,064,880. These rotary combustion engines comprise anouter body having an axis, axiallyspaced end walls and a peripheral wallinterconnecting the end walls. The inner surface of the peripheral walland the end Wall form a cavity and the engine also includes a rotor thatis mounted within the cavity between its end walls.

The aXis of the rotor is eccentric from andparallel to the axis of thecavity of the outer body. The rotor has axially-spaced end facesdisposed adjacent to the end walls of the outer body and a plurality ofcircumferentiallyspaced apex portions. The rotor is rotatable relativeto the outer body, audits apex portions substantially continuouslyengage the inner surface of the outer body to form a plurality ofworking chambers that vary in volume during engine operation, as theresult of relative rotation between the rotor and the outer body.

To seal the variable volume working chambers of a rotary combustionengine, one from the other, it has been previously known to provide aslot in each apex portion of the rotor extending in an axial directionover the entire axial width of the rotor and to provide a sealing stripwithin the slot. Both single and multip-art sealing strips have beenused for this purpose. 7

With such sealing strips it has been normal to provide a certain amountof clearance between the side walls of the slot and the sides of thesealing strip and to provide means for urging the sealing strip towardthe inner surface of the peripheral wall of the outer body. With thisarrangement when a difference in gas pressure exists between twoadjacent working chambers, the gas on the high pressure side of the sealcan enter the slot and urge the side of the sealing strip against theside wall of the slot on the lowpressure side of the sealing strip.

' face of its recess in the rotor..'

attests Patented Apr. 27, 1965 ice To seal the clearance existingbetween the end faces of the rotor and the adjacent end walls of theouter body, sealing elements are provided that extend along the apexesof the rotor, and preferably these sealing elements form a part of thesealing strip itself. The rotor is also pro- .v-ided with end face sealson each of its end faces that extend between adjacent apex portions ofthe rotor to seal the running clearance between the rotor end faces andthe adjacent end walls of the outer body. These end face seals areaxially movable and continuously engage the adjacent end walls of theouter body.

The rotor also carries intermediate bodies that are axially movable andare located within recesses in the In the embodiment of the sealingsystem disclosed in application (Serial No. 761,339, filed September 16,1958, now Patent No. 3,064,880), the intermediate body is arranged sothat it has an axially movable sliding fit within a recess in the rotorprovided for it. The intermediate body has a groove within which itreceives the radial inner end of the sealing element. In this embodimentof the sealing system that is disclosed in that application, to obtainadequate and effective sealing it is necessary that the sealing elementengage the side wall of its slot in the rotor as well as the side wallof the groove in the intermediate body. To achieve engagement of thesealing element with both side walls relatively narrow manufacturingtolerances are required.

In view-of the desire to eliminate narrow manufacturing toleranceswherever possible, it is a primary object of this invention to provide anovel sealing system having parts that can be manufactured with largertolerances than was previously possible. This desideradum isaccomplished by having the sealing element, preferably the sealing stripitself, engage the intermediate body along only a small surface. Thisengaging surface can be a line, for example, in embodiments in which theintermediate body has a groove forreceiving the sealing element and inwhich this groove is enlarged radially inwardly.

It is thus another object of this invention to provide a novel sealingsystem in which the engaging surface between the intermediate body andthe sealing element is a line only. When the groove in the intermediatebody for receiving the sealing element is enlarged radially inwardly,the sealing element engages only the radially outer edge of the grooveand can always easily be brought into alignment with the side wall ofthe slot in the apex portion of the rotor that carries the sealingstrip.

The same desired effect of having the engaging surface comprise a linemay also be obtained when the intermediate body comprises a slottedannulus in which the slot of the annulus receives the sealing element.In such an embodiment, if the intermediate body is formed as a spreaderbody through suitable dimensioning of the slotted annulus, relativelylarge tolerances can be permitted, because such an intermediate body maybe spread by internal tension or gas pressure from one of the adjacentworking chambers to keep it in sealing contact with the inner sur- Aproblem that has been encountered in the use of previously knownsealingsystems in rotary combustion engines is that sealing engagementbetween the end face seals and the intermediate body can be disrupted bychanging conditions of operation. It has been somewhat 3 difficult toobtain a reliable sealing contact of both ends of an end face seal withthe adjacent intermediate bodies, since the end face seals preferablyhave a strip-shaped configuration and are subject to having theirposition relative to the intermediate body changed during operationunder the influence of centrifugal forces, gas pressures, and thermalstresses. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide anovel sealing system that will ensure adequate sealing engagementbetween the ends Of the end face seals and the intermediate bodiesregardless of changes in operating conditions of the engine. A preferredembodiment for achieving the foregoing object provides a sealing systemthat includes a sealing body positioned between each intermediate bodyand the end wall of the outer body. This sealing body is located withina recess in the rotor and is in the form of a slotted annulus which isadapted to receive the radially inner and axially outer end of thesealing element within its slot. The ends of the end face seals abut insealing engagement against the outer surface of the sealing body.

The sealing body is under the action of gas pressure and is able toengage the sealing element as well as the ends of the adjacent end faceseals as it is arranged with clear ance within its recess. When thesealing body is made in the shape of a slotted annulus that is spread byinternal tension, or placed under stress when inserted in it recess, orsperad by gas pressure, it automatically maintains itself, in sealingcontact or engagement with the ends of the face seals.

Gas pressure acts also behind the intermediate body and resses this bodytoward the sealing body to urge the sealing body against the adjacentend wall of the outer body. With such a configuration and arrangement anetfective seal without gaps is obtained. Preferably, the inter- .ediatebody that is used in combination with the sealing body has one of thepreviously described desirable shapes, but it is within the scope ofthis invention to use the sealing body in combination with anintermediate body of previously known configuration, since the sealingbody itself achieves the desired sealing in providing continuous sealingengagement with the ends of the end face seals, and the advantages of asealing system without gaps providing sealing interconnection betweenthe sealing strip and the end face seals is obtained.

To provide a completely closed sealing system without gaps, it isdesirable that the sealing body and the end face seals have the sameaxial width and to arrange the sealing body and end face seals so thatthe axially outer face of the intermediate body engages the juncture between the sealing body and the end face seals. rangernent ensures thatthe intermediate body bridges the joint abutment of the end face sealswith the sealing body.

Additional objects of this invention are to provide a novel sealingsystem for rotary mechanisms that ensures a closed sealing systemwithout gaps between its components at their points of juncture and inwhich all of the sealing components are in mutual sealing engagementwith one another. This invention also provides a novel system that makesuse of gas pressure within the rotary i iechanisrn to re-enforce theinherent sealing'capabilities of the system and prevent gaps fromoccurring between the components of the system during operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel sealing systemfor a rotary mechanism in which some of the components of the system areunder internal tension that serves to ensure sealing engagement betweencomponents of the system at their points of juncture.

To achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance with its purpose,this invention provides means which, as embodied and broadly described,comprise a novel sealing system for sealing the working chambers of arotary mechanisrmone from the other, by achieving a combination ofsealing components that cooperate together to provide This ar-'efficient and effective sealing en agement with each other at theirpoints of juncture regardless of varying conditions of operation of themechanism. Preferably, this combination comprises an intermediate bodybetween the ends of the end face seals and the radially inner end of thesealing elements in which the surface engagement between theintermediate body and the side wall of the sealing element is achievedby a line contact and in which preferably, a sealing body is providedaxially outward from the intermediate body. The sealing body is insealing engagement with the ends of the end face seals where these abutagainst the sealing body'and the sealing body is under internal tensionwhich enforces this abutting contact with the ends of the end face sealsand may also be under gas pressure to achieve the same end. This novelsealing system ensures effective sealing through the mutual cooperationand interaction of the components that comprise it.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description that follows and in part will be obvious fromthe description or may be learned by practice of the invention, theobjects and advantages being realized and attained by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements shown and described.

As accompanying drawings that are incorporated in and constitute a partof this specification illustrate various embodiments of the inventionand together with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

Of the drawings:

FlG. 1 is a side elevation view of one type of rotary combustion enginewith which the present invention may be used. This view shows the engineas it appears with one end wall of the outer body removed and is takenalong the line 1-1 of FIG. 2; 7

FIG. 2 is a central vertical section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view ofthe embodiment of a sealing system that issomewhat similar to that disclosed in application 761,339, now PatentNo. 3,064,880. FlG. 3 shows this embodiment as it appears when formingthe seal between chambers A and B of FIG. 1 with the rotor in theposition shown in FIG. l. The remaining figures of the drawings thatshow embodiments of this invention also show these embodiments in theform in which they would appear when providing sealing between chamber Aand chamber B with the rotor in the position as shown in FIG. 1; v

, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; I

FIG. 5. is a sectional view of one embodiment of the novel sealingsystem forming thisinvention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspectiveview of the component torn ing the intermediatebody of the sealing system depicted in PEG. 5; 7

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a sealing system forming a secondembodiment of this invention;

FlG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9@ of FIG. 8; V

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a sealing system forming a thirdembodiment of this invention; and

FIG. ll is a sectional view taken along the line il -ll of FIG. 10. V Vi It is to be understood that both the. foregoing general descriptionand the following detailed description are exemplary andexplanatory butare not'restrictive of the invention. e

Reference will now be made in detail'to thepresent preferred embodimentof the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

In accordance with the invention, a rotary combustion engine and novelsealing system for sealing the working chambers of such an engine, onefrom the other, are provided. As embodied and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,the present preferred embodiment of the invention ineludes a rotarycombustion engine comprising a generally .or rotor rotates relativeto.theouter body.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and'2, and as here preferably embodied, the rotorIt) rotates on an axis 14 that iseccentric from and parallel to the axisieof the curved inner surface 18 of the outer body 12. The distancebetween the axes 14 and 16 is equal to the effective eccentricity of theengine and is designated .e in the drawings. The curved inner surface 18of the outer body 12 has basically the form of an epitrochoid ingeometric shape and includes two arched lobe-defining portions or lobes.

As embodied, the generally triangular shape of the rotor it? correspondsinits configuration to the inner envelope or the maximum profile of therotor that will permit interference-free rotation of the rotor 163within the outer body 12.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the outer body 12 comprisesaperipheralwall 24 that has for its inner surface the curved innersurface 18, and a pair of axiallyspaced end walls 22 and 24 that aredisposed on opposite sides of the peripheral wall 20. i

The end Walls .22 and 24 support a shaft 26, the geometric center ofwhich is coincident with the axis 16 of theouter body ,12. This shaft 26is supported for rotation by the end walls 22 and 24 on bearings 28. Ashaft eccentric 3%) is rigidly attached to or forms an integral part ofthe shaft 26,.and the rotor is supported for rotation or rotatablymounted on the shaft eccentric 30 by the rotor bearing 32.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and ;2, an internally-toothed or ring gear 34 isrigidly attached to one end face of the rotor 10. The ring gear34 is inmesh with and externallytoothedgear or pinion 36 that is rigidlyattached to the stationary end Wall 22 of the outer body 12.

From this construction, it may be observed that the gearing 34 and 36does not drive or impart torque to the shaft 26 but serves to index orregister the position of the rotor 10 with respect to the outer body 12and to keep the rotor in phase asthe rotor rotates relative to the outerbody. The gearing also enforces the desired speed ratio between therotor and the shaft and removes the positioning load that wouldotherwise be placed upon the apex portions of the rotor 10.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 1, the rotor 10 includes three apexportions 38 that carry radially movable sealing strips 40. The sealingstrips 40 are in substantially continuous gas-sealing engagement withthe inner surface 18 of the outer body 12 as the rotor it rotates withinand relative to the outer body 12.

By means of the rotation of the rotor 1t relative tothe outer body 12,three variable volume working chambers A, B, and C are formed betweenthe peripheral working faces 44 of the rotor 10 and the inner surface 18of the outer body 12. As embodied in FIG. 2, the rotation of the rotorrelative to the outer body is counterclockwise and is so indicated by anarrow.

A spark plug 46 is mounted in the peripheral wall 20 of the outerbody-12, and at the appropriate time in the engine cycle, the spark plug46 provides ignition for a compressed combustible mixture which, onexpansion, drives the rotor in the direction of the arrow. The rotarycombustion engine may also be operatedas a diesel, and

when it is operated as a diesel, the spark plug 46 is not required,since ignition of the fuel is initiated by the temperature reachedthrough high compression of the working an.

Also as shown in FIG. 1, one lobe of the epitrochoidal inner surface 18is provided with an intake port 48 and the other lobe is provided withan exhaust port 50. As the rotor It) rotates, a fresh charge is drawninto the appropriate chamber (chamber A as shown in FIG. 1) through theintake port 48. This charge is then successively compressed, ignited,expanded and finally exhausted through the exhaust port 56. i

All four successive phases of the engine cycle: intake,

compression, expansion, and exhaust, take place within each one of thevariable volume working chambers A, B, and C, each time the rotor 10completes one revolution within the outer body.

The working faces 44 of the rotor 10 are provided with cut-out portionsor channels 52 that permit combustion gases to pass freely from one lobeof the epitrochoidal inner surface 13 to the other lobe when the rotoris at or near the dead center of maximum compression position. Also, adesired compression ratio for the engine may be attained by appropriateproportioning of the volume of the channels52. i

In the present preferred embodiment, the gear ratio between the gearing34 and 36 is 3:2 so that each time the rotor It completes one revolutionabout its own axis 14, the shaft 26 rotates three times about its axis16. The gearing thus enforces a speed ratio between the shaft 26 and therotor 10 of 3:1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, sealing strips 40 arecarried with clearance in each slot54, and these sealing strips 40continuously slide on the inner surface 18 of the outer body 12 and thusseal the three working chambers A, B, and Cfrom one another in aperipheral direction. The rotor 10 is also provided in each of its endfaces with end face seals 56 that are axially movable and that areconnected with sealing strips 40 by axially-movable intermediate bodies58. The three difierent types of seals, the sealing strips 40, the endface seals 56, and the intermediate bodies 58, thus serve to comprise acomplete sealing system to seal each of the chambers A, B, and C onefrom the other.

An embodiment similar to that of Patent No. 3,064,880

is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, anannular recess 60 is provided beneath and surrounding the radially innerend of the slot 54. This annular recess 66 accommodates anaxially-movable intermediate body 58 with a sliding fit.

The intermediate body 53, as shown in FIG. 3, includes a groove 62 thatreceives the .radially inner and axially outer end of thesealing strip40. For proper fitting of the parts, and as can be seen in FIG. 3, thegroove 62 must be in exact alignment with the slot 54 so that theside'face 64 of the sealing strip 40 will be in contact with both theside Wall 66 of the slot 54 and the side wall 68 of the groove 62, whenthe higher pressure is in chamber B. If the pressure in chamber A shouldbe higher, however, the side face 70 of thesealing strip 40 must be insealing contact with both the side wall '72 of the slot and side wall'74 of the groove 62.

Also as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, strip-shaped end face seals 56 arecarried within end face grooves '76 on each end face of the rotor 10.The end face seals 56 are axially movable within the grooves '76 and arein joining abutment against the intermediate body 58. If the gaspressure in chamber B is higher than the pressure in chamber A, as shownin FIG. 3, the sealing strip 40 is urged toward the walls 66 and 68.Also the gas pressure acts underneath the sealing strip 4% to urge itradially outward to- Wards the inner surface 18 of the outer body 12 tohold the sealing strip 40 in sealing engagement with the inner surface18.

Further, the gas. pressure additionally acts withinthe annular recess 6%behind or axially inward from the inter mediate body 58 and urges itaxially outward into sealing engagement with the inner surface of theend walls 22 and 24. Finally, the gas pressure urges the end face seals56 toward the radially inner side wall 78 of the end face grooves '76and axially outward into sealing engagement "with the inner walls of theouter body end walls 22 and 24. These latter functions of the gaspressure are best illustrated in FIG. 4.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is one in which the intermediate body 53accomplishes a tight connection between the sealing strip 40 and the endface seals 56. This embodiment, when made to proper tolerances,effectively seals the slot 541 and end face groove 76 from each other,but this desideratum is achieved through the aid of at least two snugfits. These snug fits, of course, render the assembly and exchange ofthe components of this sealing system difiicult.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel sealing system isprovided for sealing the working chambers, one from the other. As herepreferably embodied, and as shown in one embodiment in FIGS. and 6, theintermediate body 89 is provided with a groove 32 that becomesprogressively larger in Width in a radially inward direction. Thisconfiguration provides a wedge-shaped groove for the groove 32, andbecause of this configuration of the groove 82, the sealing strip 49meets the intermediate body 80 in sealing engagement along a linecontact, namely, the line formed by the outer edge $4 of the groove 82meeting the side face 64 of the sealing strip it).

From a study of. FIGS. 5 and 6, it is apparent that the intermediatebody 80 can adjust itself under gas pressure in such a manner that theouter edge 84 of the groove 82 will always be in alignment with theassociated side wall 66 of the slot 54-.

A perspective view of the intermediate body St!) is shown in FiG. 7.This view gives a ready grasp of the exact configuration of theintermediate body an and its wedge-shaped groove 82.

Other than providing sealing engagement by a line a contact between theouter edge 84 of the wedge-shaped groove 82 and the side face 64 of thesealing strip 4i), operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 is notdifierent from the operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4.

In accordance with this invention, a second embodiment of the novelsealing system for sealing the chambers of a rotary mechanism, one fromthe other, is provided. As here preferably embodied, this secondembodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 and comprises for theintermediate body of the sealing system a slotted annulus 86. The slot88 of the annulus 86 receives the radially inner and axially outer endof the sealing strip 40. The annulus 86 is inserted in an annularchamber 90 that is formed from the inner surface of the recess 6% andthe outer surface of a projecting boss or insert 92 that isconcentrically arranged within the recess 60.

The purpose of the boss 92 is to diminish the volume of the recess 60underneath the sealing strip 4% as far as practicable, because otherwisethis volume would be too large to respond quickly enough to changes ofpressure in the adjacent working chambers A and B.

As in the embodiment of FIGS. 5, 6, 7, the sealing strip in thisembodiment also engages the slotted annulus 86 only along a line contactor relatively small surface that can adjust itself without difiiculty toexact alignment with the associated side wall 64 of the slot 54responsive to gas pressure. Also, the slotted annulus 86 provides theadvantage of not requiring its external surface to be dimensioned toyield a sliding fit against the inner surface of the recess 60, becauseit can be dimensioned in a manner so that its own internal tension orgas pressure will spread it so that it comes into sealing engagementwith the inner surface of the recess 60. In

this embodiment, the end face seals 5% are also in joining abutmentagainst the annulus 86.

In the embodiments of the. present invention illustrated in FIGS. 5through 9, the junction of the end face seals 56 with the intermediatebodies 53 and 86, respectively, is accomplished by joint abutment.Unless a snug fit is provided for this joint abutment, it is difficultto insure that both ends of each end face seal 56 will maintain thedesired joint abutment for sealing engagement under all operatingconditions. The end face seals 56 may change their position with respectto the intermediate bodies 58 and 86 because of the influence ofcentrifugal forces, gas pressures, or thermal stresses. Also, asoperating temperatures vary, the length of the end face seals 56 willalso vary and may deleteriously affect the quality of the sealingengagement at the joint abutment.

In accordance with the present invention, a third embodiment of a novelsealing system for sealing the working chambers or rotary mechanism, onefrom the other, is provided. This third embodiment provides a solutionto the problem of ensuring a joint abutment between the intermediatebody and the end face seal.

As here preferably embodied, and as shown in FIGS. 10 and ll, a slottedannulus 86' is provided that is the same as the slotted annulus 86 inits basic configuration. Axially outward from the slotted annulus 86",there is provided a sealing body 94 in the form of a second slottedannulus, and this sealing body is arranged with clearance within theannular chamber 90.

If the higher pressure, as shown in FIG. 10, is in chamber B, both theslotted annulus 86 and the sealing body 94 will be turned by gaspressure in a clockwise direction until the faces 96 and 98 of theslotted annulus 86", and sealing body 94, respectively, are in sealingengagement with the sealing strip 40. At the same time, the externalsurface of the sealing body 94 will be in contact with the ends of theend face seals 56.

The abutment of the end face seal against the external surface of thesealing body 94 can be enhanced in effectiveness by spreading of thesealing body 94 under the influence of gas pressure. The gas pressurealso enters the annular chamber axially inward behind the slottedannulus 86" and urges it axially outward against the sealing body 94until the sealing body is in sealing engagement with the adjacent innersurface of the end wall of the outer body.

As shown in FIG. 11, the sealing body 9d and the end face seals 56 havethe same axial Width, and the axially outer face of the slotted annulus86' is located so that it engages the axially inner face of the sealingbody 94- and bridges the joint abutment 1% between the sealing body 94and the end face seals 56. A combination is thus created that ensures atight sealing connection between the sealing strip 40 and the end faceseals 56 as well as a sealing of the slot 54 and the end face groove 76from each other. The combination of the components of this novel sealingsystem provide through the interaction of the sealing body 94 andslotted annulus 86' a sealing connection that is not influenced bythermal expansion or contraction of the end face seals 56.

In addition, this latter embodiment of the present invention permits afree assembly, interchange, and exchange of all sealing parts withoutthe necessity of machining the parts to narrow tolerances, because theslotted annulus 86 and the sealing body 94 can both adapt themselves tothe exact sealing requirements of the moment through the influence ofgas pressure and their own resiliency.

This invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described, but also includes within the scope ofthe accompanying claims any departures made from such mechanisms that donot sacrifice its chief advantages.

9 -What is claimed is:

1. in combination with a rotary mechanism, comprising a hollow outerbody, having an axis, axially-spaced end Walls, and a peripheral wallinterconnecting the end Walls, and a rotor mounted within the outer bodyand rotatable relative to the outer body, the rotor havingaxially-spaced end faces adjacent the end walls of the outer body and aplurality of cir-cumferentially-spaced apex portions in sealingengagement with theinner surface of the peripheral wall to form aplurality of working chambers between the rotor and the inner surface ofthe outer body that vary in volume upon relative rotation of the rotorwithin the outer body; the improvement of a sealing system comprisingeach apex portion of the rotor having an axially-extending slot, aradially movable sealing strip carried in each slot, and in sealingengagement with the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the outerbody, the end faces of the rotor having grooves extending between apexportions, axially movable end face seals carried in each end facegroove, each end face of the rotor also having recesses adjacent eachapex portion, axially movable intermediate bodies carried in each recessof the rotor and in sealing engagement with the adjacent end wall of theouter body, the end face seals extending between adjacent intermediatebodies and having their ends in joining abument against the intermediatebodies, each intermediate body having a cavity therein receiving theradially inward edge of the sealing strip, said cavity being larger atits radially inward portion than at the peripheral portion, saidintermediate body having substantially line-contact at the peripheralportion of the cavity with the sealing strip.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the cavity in theintermediate body is wedge-shaped.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the intermediate bodyis formed as a spreader body that engages the inner surface of therecess.

4. The invention as defined in claim '1, in which the intermediate bodycomprises a slotted annulus, and in which the slot serves toac'commodatethe sealing strip.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, in which the recess in the endface of the rotor that accommodates the slotted annulus is annular inshape.

6. The invention as defined inclairn 1, in which the intermediate bodycomprises a first part and a second part, the first part of theintermediate body being a sealing body, and the second part of theintermediate body being the intermediate body proper, and in which thesealing body is positioned axially outward from the intermediate bodyproper and is carried in the recess in the rotor with clearance, thesealingbody also having a groove in which it receives the radially innerand axially outer end of the sealing strip, the sealing body being inabutting engagement with the ends of the end face seals.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6, in which the sealing bodycomprises a slotted annulus, the slotted annulus being under internaltension When it is carried in the recess in the rotor, and also arrangedso that it is subject to movement within the recess responsive to gaspressure, whereby under the influence of its internal tension and gaspressure the slotted annulus may be urged into contact with the adjacentends of the end face seals.

8. The invention as defined in claim 6, in which the sealing body andthe end face seals have the same axial width, and in which the end faceof the intermediate body proper engages the sealing body and bridges thejoint abutment between the end face seals and the sealing body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED SIATES PATENTS 3,033,1 0 5/62Bentele 12a s 3,064,880 11/62 Wankel et al. 230- FOREIGN PATENTS1,057,613 5/59 Germany.

JOSEPH H. BRANSON, IR., Primary Examiner.

W. GELDMAN, Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A ROTARY MECHANISM, COMPRISING A HOLLOW OUTERBODY, HAVING AN AXIS, AXIALLY-SPACED END WALLS, AND A PERIPHERAL WALLINTERCONNECTING THE END WALLS, AND A ROTARY MOUNTED WITHIN THE OUTERBODY AND ROTATABLE RELATIVE TO THE OUTER BODY, THE ROTOR HAVINGAXIALLY-SPACED END FACES ADJACENT THE END WALLS OF THE OUTER BODY AND APLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY-SPACED APEX PORTIONS IN SEALINGENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF THE PERIPHERAL WALL TO FORM APLURALITY OF WORKING CHAMBERS BETWEEN THE ROTOR AND THE INNER SURFACE OFTHE OUTER BODY THAT VARY IN VOLUME UPON RELATIVE ROTATION OF THE ROTORWITHIN THE OUTER BODY; THE IMPROVEMENT OF A SEALING SYSTEM COMPRISINGEACH APEX PORTION OF THE ROTOR HAVING AN AXIALLY-EXTENDING SLOT, ARADIALLY MOVABLE SEALING STRIP CARRIED IN EACH SLOT, AND IN SEALINGENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF THE OUTERBODY, THE END FACES OF THE ROTOR HAVING GROOVES EXTENDING BETWEEN APEXPORTIONS, AXIALLY MOVABLE END FACES SEALS CARRIED IN EACH END FACEGROOVES, EACH END FACE OF THE ROTOR ALSO HAVING RECESSES ADJACENT EACHAPEX PORTION, AXIALLY MOVABLE INTERMEDIATE BODIES CARRIED IN EACH RECESSOF THE ROTOR AND IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ADJACENT END WALL OF THEOUTER BODY, THE END FACE SEALS EXTENDING BETWEEN ADJACENT INTERMEDIATEBODIES AND HAVING THEIR ENDS IN JOINING ABUMENT AGAINST THE INTERMEDIATEBODIES, EACH INTERMEDIATE BODY HAVING A CAVITY THEREIN RECEIVING THERADIALLY INWARD EDGE OF THE SEALING STRIP, SAID CAVITY BEING LARGER ATITS RADIALLY INWARD PORTION THAN AT THE PERIPHERAL PORTION, SAIDINTERMEDIATE BODY HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY LINE-CONTACT AT THE PERIPHERALPORTION OF THE CAVITY WITHIN THE SEALING STRIP.